A riverscape perspective on habitat associations among riverine bird assemblages in the Lake Champlain Basin,USA |
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| Authors: | S Ma?eika P Sullivan Mary C Watzin William S Keeton |
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| Institution: | (1) Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, University of Vermont, 3 College Street, Burlington, VT 05401, USA;(2) Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, P.O. Box 441136, Moscow, ID 83844-1136, USA;(3) Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, 343 Aiken Center, Burlington, VT 05401, USA |
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| Abstract: | The riverscape perspective recognizes the heterogeneous habitat types within the stream corridor as a single, integrated ecological
unit operating across spatial scales. Although there is ample evidence that the riverscape notion is appropriate in understanding
the physical phenomena of stream corridors, significantly less attention has focused on its ecological ramifications. To this
end, we surveyed riverscape habitat variables and bird community characteristics in the Champlain Valley of Vermont, USA.
From the data collected, we used information theoretic methodology (AICc) to model relationships between bird community attributes and key habitat variables across the riverscape. Our models with
the greatest support suggest that riverine bird communities respond to a suite of characteristics; representing a variety
of riverscape habitats at the in-stream, floodplain, and riparian levels. Channel slope, drainage area, percent conifers,
and in-stream habitat condition were among the most influential variables. We found that piscivores are potentially important
indicators of riverscape condition, responding to a host of variables across the riverscape. Our results endorse a holistic
approach to assessing and managing the mosaic of patches in the riverscape and suggest that a riverscape approach has significant
conservation potential. |
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| Keywords: | Bird communities Conservation Floodplain Information theoretic method In-stream Riparian Riverscape |
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